Washing-machine.



No. 740,269. PATENTBD SEPT. 29, .1903.

E. A. mi. M. GRIFFIN.

'WASHING MACHINE. LPPLIIOLI-9HA FILED SEPT. 4, 1902;

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N0 MODEL.

ATTO/9N TH: mams Pneus cc, mom-umn.. msmmmmn c' a. 740,269. A PATENTED SEPT. 29, 1903.` E. A. & H. M. GRIFFIN.

WASHING MACHINE. ArrLmA'rIN FILED SEPT. 4. 190s. 1m mmm.. Y 2 sums-sum 2.

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No. 740,269. Y

:Ilatented September Q9, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEsT A. GRIFFIN AND IIEsrER M. GRIFFIN, or AL'rooNA, PENNSYL- vANIA; sAID IIEsTER M. GRIFFIN AssIGNoR 'ro sAID ERNEST A.

GRIFFIN.

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SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.. (740,269, dated September 29, 1903. Application filed September 4, 1802. Serial No. 122,120. (No model.)

To all whom it may oon/dern:V i

Beit known that we,ERNEsT A. GRIFFIN andy Washing-Machines, of which the following isl a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvementsin washing-machines of that class wherein an oscillatory tub or vessel is employed.

One object in View is the provision of im-4 proved meansfor Supporting the vessel so that it can turn freely and be capable of easy operation by hand.

A further object of the invention is to retain a rubber in a stationary position within the oscillatory vessel by improved means, which permit the rubber to be raised or lowered and also allow the rubber to be lifted with the vessels vcover to a raised or opened position. 4

With these ends in view the invention consists in the combination, construction, and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed. Y

Reference is to behad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional elevation through a Washing-machine embodying the improvements. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional'elevation through the ball-bearing support for the oscillatory vessel. Fig. 3 is an enlarged inverted plan view of the non-revoluble rubber. detail view in top plan, illustrating the bear-A ing-sleeve which forms a part of the ball` bearing support for the vessel. Fig. 5 is an under or inverted planpview of the movable plate, which alsoforms apart of the ballbearing support. Fig. 6 is va detail transverse section illustrating a part of the means for holding therubber in a stationary position within the movable vessel, and Fig. 7 is a detail view showing another construction for holding the rubber against turning within the oscillatory suds-box. Fig. 8 is an en- 5o larged detail'cross-section*through the con- Fig. 4 is an enlarged` struction shown by Fig. 7 and in the plane indicated by the dotted line 8 8. 5 designates a movable vessel or tub which is mounted on a stand or base 6 by a ballbearing support embodying one part ot the present invention. This base or stand may be of any suitable construction; but in Fig. 1 of the drawings it is represented as consisting of a series of diverging legs. It will be understood, however, that the stand may be modified within wide limits. This base or stand is equipped with a plate 7, in which is formed a vertical opening 8, that accommodates a bearing-sleeve 9. This opening has its wall or shell tapered, as shown by Fig. 2, in order that the sleeve may wedge itself in place within said opening 8 in the face-plate 7. The sleeve is provided at'its upper end with a flange or plate 10,'adapted to rest upon the base-plate 7, and it is secured to said base-plate by any suitable means, such as screws or bolts 11. plate 10 is provided in its upper face with a circular groove orchannel 12 forming one part of the raceway for the series of bearing balls or rollers 13. The groove or ball-race 12 lies close to the passage in the sleeve 9, and the upper side of this groove is closed by a movable member or plate 15, said plate being arranged to lie directly over the plate 10 of the bearing-sleeve and being interposed between said plate lO and the collar 16 of the spindle 17. (See Fig. 5.) This plate 15 is loosely tted around the spindle 17, and it is provided at opposite sides with the outwardly-extending lugs 15, having tbe openings 19, which are adapted to receive the inner ends of the springs 20. The outer ends of said springs are attached to lugs or brackets 21, which are carried by the arms 21a, fastened to the base or stand 6.

The spindle 17 is made solid or integral with the collar 16, and these two parts are preferably cast in a single piece with a series of radial arms 22, forming a metallic spider, which is applied irmly against the flat under side of the vessel or tub 5, said arms being secured firmly to the vessel by suitable screws, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The spindlel'? passes through a I'oo central opening in the movable plate 15 and through the longitudinal passage provided by the bearing-sleeve 9. The collar 16 is arranged to rest or bear directly upon the movable plate 15, and the latter has ball-bearing engagement with the sleeve, whereby the tub is pivotally supported on the base or stand, and it is free to turn in a horizontal plane on the vertical axis afforded by the spindle 17. The upward movement of the spindle is limited or arrested by a suitable stop-pin 23. The spindle 17 is furthermore provided with the arms 18, which extend from opposite sides of the spindle and terminate in the depending lugs 18, the latter being adapted to engage with the lugs 15a of the spring-controlled plate 15 and to limit the movement of the receptacle 5, which is mounted on the base by the spindle 17 and the coperating parts.

It will be understood that the spindle 17 is free to turn with the hub and that the axial movement of the spindle 17 and the collar 16 takes place with relation to the sleeve 9 and the movable member 15. As the tub and spindle turn in one direction, the arms 1S turn freely with the spindle until the lugs 18a strike against the lugs 15L of the member or plate 15, and thereupon this plate turns with the spindle and vessel and pulls on the springs 2O until the latter are distended and the vessel is finally arrested. At the beginning of the return movement the recoil of the springs imparts the initial backward turn, and the several parts move together until the springs and the lugs ofthe member 15 are brought into line, 'and thereafter the arms 18 turn with the spindle and the vessel independently of the member 15 until the lugs 18a of said arms again engage with the lugs -15d of the member 15, thus turning the latter in an opposite direction and again distending the springs until the turning movement in said direction is arrested by the resistance of the spring. It is to be understood that the springs and the coacting parts cushion and finally arrest the turning movement of the vessel in either direction. l

A suitable handle, as 24, is secured to the vessel, and the latter is provided with a cover 25, which is hinged, as at 26, thus allowing the cover to be opened by raising it.

27 designates a guide-sleeve which is pro vided with a base-plate 28, fastened to the top of the cover 25, and this sleeve is in vertical registration with an opening 29 in the cover. Through the sleeve and the opening extends a rubber-supporting spindle 30, of wood or metal, the same being provided with a longitudinal slot 31, adapted to loosely receive a key or pin 32. This key is secured in a collar 33, which is loosely fitted on the upper protruding part of the spindle 30, said collar beingadapted to rest upon the guidesleeve 27 and to permit the spindle 30 to move freely therethrough. The collar 33 and the key or pin 32 thereof are held in astationary position by a link 34, having one end fitted in an eye 32 of the pin or key, the other end of said link being attached to a vertical post 35, having an inwardlyextending arm 36 made fast with the base or stand 6. v (See Fig. 1.)

37 designates the stationaryrubber, which is made in the form of a disk, as shown by Fig. 3, and which is secured firmly to the lower portion of the non-revoluble spindle 30. The upper rubber is adapted to be disposed Within the chamber of the vessel 5, and it is provided on its under surface with a series of ribs 39 and with circulating perforations 40, the latter being formed in the rubber between the ribs 39 thereof. The rubber is held against movement on the vertical axis afforded bythe spindle, because said spindle is held in a stationary position by the key 32, the collar 33,

the link 34, and the post 35; but the spindle4 and the rubber may be adjusted vertically within the vessel, because the slotted spindle may slide through .the guide-sleeve 27 and the collar 33, thus making provision for adjustment of the rubber with relation to the vessel and accommodating clothes of different thicknesses. The vessel has its bottom provided with a suitable rubbing surface, which is formed by the slats or ribs 41, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and the rubbing-surfaces of the vessel and the rubber are in opposing relation in order to secure maximum efficiency in the operation of the machine.

In the construction shown by Figs. 7 and 8 we have simplified the means for holding the rubber against turning, and in these figures we employ a post 42, the same being provided on one side with a flat face and on its other side with integral guide-lugs 43. The post is formed With an enlarged foot 44, through which pass bolts or screws to secure the post firmly to the cover. The guide-lugs 43 are perforated for the reception of the slotted stem or spindle 30, and the link 34 is fitted in or passed through the slot 31 of the spindle or stem, said link lying between the guide-lugs.

Having thus described our invention, we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A washing-machine having an oscillatory vessel, a cover thereon, an agitator, a vertical spindle fixed to said agitator and provided with a longitudinal slot, an upstanding guide device carried by and revoluble with the cover and loosely receiving the slotted spindle for the latter to remain stationary while the guide device and the vessel turn, a stationary post, and means connecting said post and the slotted spindle, said means being eective to hold the spindle and agitator against turning with the vessel and to permit the spindle and agitator to have a limited vertical adjustment within the vessel.

2. In a washing-machine, the combination with an oscillatory vessel having a hinged ICO IIO

cover, of a guide-sleeve iixed to 'said cover, a names to this specification in the presence of slotted spindle slidably fitted in the sieeveaud two subscribing witnesses.

provided with a rubber, a collar resting on the sleeve and loosely fitted to the spindle, a 5 pin attached to the collar and fitting in the l l slot of the spindle, a post, and a iiuk con- Witnesses: nected to the post and the collar. ROBERT W. SMITH,

In testimony whereofr We have signed our BESSIE SMITH. 

